Friday in Hawkville (p.m. edition)

The Seahawks defense ranked No. 15 in the league last year and the goal for this season is cracking the Top 10.

The coaches took a step in what they hope will be that upward direction on Thursday by showing the players a highlight film that featured some of the best defenses in NFL history – including Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtin, the Dallas Cowboys’ Doomsday Defense and the Ravens’ defense that led Baltimore to a Super Bowl victory after the 2000 season.

“Just a little first-day motivation. It was good for us,” said veteran defensive tackle Rocky Bernard, who had surgery for a double sports and torn abductor in the offseason to correct a situation that bothered him for most of last season.

“Just looking down the line of all the guys we have, there’s no reason why we couldn’t match those guy’s intensity and what they brought to the table every Sunday. As a group, we should be pretty dominant this year.”

PLAYER OF THE DAY
Lofa Tatupu. It wasn’t so much for anything he did on the practice field – although the three-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker always seems to make more than his share of impressive plays.

With Tatupu, it was the way he handled questions about pleading guilty to an offseason DUI charge, which led to him spending 24 hours in jail.

“I was in the wrong. I used bad judgment,” Tatupu said. “Sincerely, as far as all the fans, the organization, my teammate, anybody that I have let down – especially the kids out there – I just want them to know it’s not the right thing to do. You shouldn’t drink and drive.

“I’ll never forget about it. I’m just glad no one was injured. I think I’ll be a better person for it.”

PLAYS OF THE DAY
Defense: Cornerback Kelly Jennings made a good read and an even better break on a pass to wide receiver Trent Shelton in the 7-on-7 drill. But the clincher was that Jennings took the ball from Shelton as both tumbled to the turf.

POSITION WATCH
Running back. As obvious as it appears that free-agent addition Julius Jones is the one to replace Shaun Alexander, coach Mike Holmgren reiterated that Jones and incumbent backup Maurice Morris will share the duties.

“I’m looking at it right now as if we have two starters at that position,” Holmgren said. “That’s how I talk to the players about it and that’s how I’m going to kind of approach it during the season.”

Holmgren’s approach is rooted in trying to keep both players healthy, since neither is as big as Alexander.

“In this day and age, you want to be the man,” Holmgren acknowledged. “(But) it will certainly help our team if I can keep them both fresh and somewhat healthy through the course of the season by doing it this way.”

INJURY REPORT
The club elaborated on the situation regarding linebacker Will Herring, who has been placed on the non-football illness list with what Holmgren called a “sickness.” Herring is being evaluated for reoccurring joint inflammation.

With Jones out, right tackle Sean Locklear shifted to left side and Ray Willis took over for Locklear on the right side with the No. 1 line.

QUOTE UNQUOTE
“They’re wrong. The thing that’s hard about playing the game, people don’t know when you’re hurt. So your at 65 percent it’s better than most people’s 100 percent. I would say that about Walt. If he’s anywhere over 65 percent, he’s the best in the business.” – quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, when asked about national reports that Jones is no longer the dominant player he has been.